A proposal to raise Connecticut transit fares and reduce service, which has been panned across the state, won little support at the state’s final hearing Monday night in New Britain.

Boosting disability fares on CT Transit buses will be “a major hardship” for eligible riders, Steven Shumsky of New Britain told a Department of Transportation hearing officer.

At seven previous hearings in the past several weeks, different groups of riders have complained that driving up fares — while cutting service in many cases — is unfair.

The DOT, however, has said it is responding to the crisis in the state’s transportation fund. Operating costs and debt payments are rising while revenue is plunging, leaving little alternative to cutbacks and higher rates unless the General Assembly kicks in more money, the department says.

Don Stacom

Metro-North's Waterbury branch, where a DOT proposal would cut service and raise fares

Metro-North's Waterbury branch, where a DOT proposal would cut service and raise fares (Don Stacom)

As it stands, the DOT this summer intends to boost basic CT Transit bus fares from $1.75 to $2, a roughly 14 percent increase.

Train fares on Metro-North Commuter Railroad and Shore Line East would jump 10 percent this summer, followed by one 5 percent increase in 2020 and another in 2021. And there’s more bad new for train commuters: Weekend and off-peak weekday service on Metro-North’s branch line would be reduced, as would the frequency of Shore Line East runs.

“Debt service and the cost of maintaining the system has increased but the Special Transportation Fund hasn’t increased enough to cover these costs,” Dennis Solensky, transit administrator with the DOT, told the small audience at Monday evening’s hearing at police headquarters.

The heart of the state transportation budget goes to two items: day-to-day operations and bond repayments. Nearly two-thirds of the operating budget is spent on public transit, while most of the debt payments are for big-ticket highway, bridge and transit projects.

Don Stacom

Fares on CTfastrak would rise along with other CT Transit fares under a DOT proposal.

Fares on CTfastrak would rise along with other CT Transit fares under a DOT proposal. (Don Stacom)

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has offered a package of new revenues — mostly notably highway tolls — that has met heavy resistance in the General Assembly. Without some major infusion of revenue, though, the bad news for transit passengers will continue for several years, Solensky told the audience.

“These wil only cover next year’s costs. Additional fare increases and service reductions would be needed in 2019, 2020 and beyond,” he said.

The current plan also would ax about 400 DOT jobs, which the agency has warned will mean delays in snow plowing and other highway services.

The plan would raise fares on the Connecticut River ferries, add a $1 fee to the now-free Hartford DASH and New Haven Green bus shuttles, and raise the price of the newly introduced U-Pass for students from $20 to $22 per semester.

Shumsky said the cost of bus passes would rise significantly. For instance, the 10-ride bus pass for disabled riders that now costs $7.65 would jump to $10 under the DOT proposal.

“That’s a lot more than the 14 percent increase you mention,” Shumsky said. “Those of us on disability or regular Social Security, all we got is a 2 percent increase” in benefits.

The DOT is inviting the public to send its opinions about whether to increase fares, cut service or raise new revenue by writing before March 16 to: Bureau of Public Transportation, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, 06131-7546 or via e-mail at dot.farecomments@ct.gov.

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